PICS: Armed robbers hit Hillsong church in Cape Town

Armed robbers targeted the Hillsong Church in Century City, Cape Town, on Monday and have yet to be arrested.

“According to information, two suspects, one armed, entered the church and robbed the employees inside the premises of their cellphones,” said Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana.

Western Cape police clarified that it was not a hostage situation, as had been claimed on social media.

Rwexana said the incident was under investigation.

A photo doing the rounds on social media showed an armed man on the roof.

The church hosted its 2018 men’s conference this past weekend.

“Please call security! Please call security!”

These were the words a terrified man shouted after he freed himself and survived a robbery at Hillsong Church in Cape Town’s Century City on Monday morning, according to an eyewitness.

With his arms crossed over in front of him, he ran to the offices of a construction company next door to ask for help after he and female colleagues were held up by two men – one armed – at around 11:00.

Callum Finaughty, a foreman at a parkade being built next to the church had been standing with a site engineer and a health and safety official when the man’s desperate cries pierced through the sounds of construction on either side of the popular church.

“He ran to the site office,” said Finaughty. “And then Empire security came. He was in total shock.”

Finaughty said the construction company called for help, and he immediately closed his own site. Another company laying a trench on the other side of the church also pulled workers back, unsure of what was happening.

The police arrived later with a dog unit and a fully kitted up, armed tactical team. They entered the building carrying rifles.